0929. Those Who Confess Not His Coming
Those Who Confess Not His Coming
"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist" (2Jn_1:7)
The Epistles of John compose one gracious love note, and yet, the Spirit through John, does not fail to tell of certain deceivers.
1. The First Epistle opens with a vision of Christ as the incarnate Word of Life, and closes with a wonderful statement of Christ's Deity. The Second and Third Epistles center around the word "Truth," and there is great rejoicing because certain ones are walking in the Truth.
2. In the First Epistle the first great denial is set forth. It is the denial of the Deity of Jesus Christ; it repudiates that Christ came in the flesh.
(1) John realized that even in his day, there were many antichrists who were possessed of the same spirit that will be fully manifested in the coming of the final and personal antichrist.
(2) John rejoiced that in his day there was a separation between the heterodox and the orthodox. John says: "They went out from us, but they were not of us."
(3) John next says that no lie is of the Truth, therefore contends: "Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist."
(4) John, in his 4th chapter, concludes: "Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist."
3. Passing now into the Second Epistle, we have the second great denial. It is the denial still of the Deity of Christ, but it repudiates that Christ is coming in the flesh.
(1) First there is the positive statement that "many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is coming in the flesh." The Authorized Version says "Come," but the verb is a present participle. The Revised Version translates it, "Cometh" in the flesh–Rotherham, Moffat, and Worrel all translate it "coming" in the flesh.
(2) Those who confess not Jesus Christ coming in the flesh are deceivers and antichrists. They are placed in the same category as those who deny that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. That is, the one who denies the first coming of Christ, the incarnation, God manifest in flesh; and those who deny that Christ is coming again in flesh, are alike deceivers and antichrists.
(3) A clear and positive statement is given concerning those who transgress and abide not in the doctrine of Christ: "He hath not God." These are solemn words, but they are true. He who denies the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ; who denies either that Jesus Christ has come or is coming in flesh, hath not God.
We would not say that all postmillennialists, who have placed the coming of Christ after the millennium, have not God. We do say, what the Book says, that those who deny the coming of Christ in the flesh, have not God. We would warn postmillennialists, who put the literal, personal, corporeal coming of Christ after the millennium, that they have robbed the blessed hope of all the glory of its glorious Scriptural dress, and they need to recast their doctrine of the Lord's return.
(4) Finally the Holy Spirit through John says a very positive thing in 2Pe_1:10-11 : "If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting: for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works" (A. S. V.).
In the First Epistle the antichrists went out from them, because they were not of them. In the Second Epistle, a separation is demanded, for the saints are taught to refuse to receive these deceivers into their houses, or to bid them God speed, upon the penalty of being reckoned a partaker of their evil deeds.
In lieu of present-day conditions John's message is most weighty. It presents a word not to be cast aside.
The world is full of those who deny the Virgin Birth–Christ come in flesh; it is also full of those who deny that the very same Jesus Christ shall so come again.
Let saints who fellowship with such beware. God's message is positive and plain. Be ye separate, saith the Lord.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR